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Bitcoin Hits New Record High, Surging to $109.4K

The price surpassed the giddy level hit just hours prior to the inauguration of President Trump on January 20.

Updated May 21, 2025, 7:08 p.m. Published May 21, 2025, 3:08 p.m.
(Getty Images)
Bitcoin hits new record high (Getty images)

What to know:

  • Bitcoin continued with recent gains, surging to a new record high above $109,400 during U.S. morning trade on Thursday.
  • The previous record was set just hours prior to the inauguration of President Trump on Jan. 20.

Bitcoin clinched a fresh record price of $109,400, surpassing the peak in January around Donald Trump's inauguration.

According to the CoinDesk Bitcoin Index, the largest and oldest cryptocurrency hit $109,486 on Wednesday during the early U.S. session. BTC surged more than 46% from its April trough induced by mounting freas over global trade war and U.S. tariffs.

The new all-time high came as spot bitcoin exchange traded funds (ETF) gobbled up $3.6 billion in net inflows in May, a sign of rejuvenated investor interest. A slew of bitcoin-focused treasury companies, including Michael Saylor's Strategy and newly-launched firm Twenty One Capital added to the buying spree, helping lift BTC to a new record.

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Positive regulatory shifts in the U.S. have further supported the market, lending legitimacy of digital assets as an asset class for investors. The U.S. Senate this week advanced a bill to regulate stablecoins while several states and sovereign nations are moving forward with legislation to create bitcoin reserves.

Analysts suggested that the current rally is more sustainable than previous ones, citing favorable financial conditions, stablecoin flows and lack of speculative fervor observed in earlier peaks, showing signs of a stronger foundation.

Read more: These Six Charts Explain Why Bitcoin's Recent Move to Over $100K May Be More Durable Than January's Run

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Bitcoin slips below $88,000 as traders brace for $28.5 billion Deribit options expiry

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Crypto continues to lose ground ahead of this week's record options expiration, while defensive positioning and thinning liquidity suggest caution into 2026.

What to know:

  • Bitcoin and crypto prices moved steadily lower in U.S. Monday afternoon trading.
  • Over $28.5 billion in bitcoin and ether options are set to expire Friday on derivatives exchange Deribit, the largest expiry in its history.